A Critical Moment

"The Third Tsuchikage versus the Third Raikage—battles of this caliber are truly once-in-a-lifetime."

Within the Heavenly White Mountains, in a corner where Hidden Cloud and Hidden Stone were locked in fierce combat, several figures hid silently behind massive boulders, watching the "battle of the Kage" unfolding below.

These people were exceptionally skilled at concealing themselves. Moreover, nearly every ninja present had their attention drawn to the battle between the two Third Kage, so almost no one noticed their presence.

"Teacher Jiraiya, who do you think will win?"

Minato Namikaze, that blond pest, watched the clash between the Kage below and asked curiously.

"If they were both at their peak, it would be hard to say. But now..."

Jiraiya shook his head.

The Kage of the Five Great Nations were undoubtedly among the strongest ninjas in the world, while the Third Tsuchikage and Third Raikage stood out even among those elite powerhouses.

The former wielded Kekkei Tota with unmatched might, casually commanded all manner of Earth Release ninjutsu, possessed fully honed combat experience and skill, and could even fly.

The latter was hailed as the strongest Raikage of all generations. He possessed the "Strongest Spear" and the "Strongest Shield," and had even beaten down the Eight-Tails with his bare hands!

If both were at their peak, it should have been an even fifty-fifty matchup.

But now...

The Third Raikage had already fought bitterly for several days. Both physically and mentally, he was nearing his limit, and he still had to worry about the safety of the Hidden Cloud ninjas.

Meanwhile, Onoki was at full strength.

The difference in their conditions was as vast as heaven and earth!

"After this battle, Hidden Cloud will probably be completely overshadowed by Hidden Stone," Jiraiya said gravely. "From here on, we'll likely need to be wary of the Hidden Stone ninjas."

Don't be fooled by Konoha helping Hidden Stone fight Hidden Cloud right now. That was simply dictated by strategy.

But after this battle...

The Raikage would die, and their elites would be wiped out.

Hidden Cloud would suffer a crippling blow.

Even if they still had some strength left, they would not be able to stir up much trouble in the coming war.

As for Hidden Stone...

Onoki was an ambitious man. He would never end the war just like that. There was a strong chance he would expand the conflict, just like Rasa!

"Watch carefully, Minato. This is hard-earned experience."

"Especially the Third Raikage. His fighting style is exactly the same as that Yotsuki Sora fellow's."

"Yes, Teacher Jiraiya!"

This was a collision between Kekkei Tota and the Strongest Spear.

It was a clash between the pinnacle combat powers of this era!

Bzzzz!!

The Third Raikage, pushing every ounce of his potential to its limit, erupted with unimaginable speed.

Accompanied by a piercing roar of thunder tearing through the air, he reached Onoki's side in the blink of an eye.

Onoki was both shocked and enraged.

Yet faced with the Third Raikage's final, all-out strike, he did not dare underestimate it in the slightest. He could only forcibly redirect the Boundary Stripping Technique that had been aimed at the Hidden Cloud ninjas, turning it to annihilate the incoming Strongest Spear into atoms!

A pure white cube appeared before him—the terrifying technique capable of reducing everything in the world to atoms.

But the Third Raikage's assault could no longer be stopped.

In an instant, the two most devastating techniques of this era collided violently.

Boom—!!

It was a terrifying collision beyond words.

Deep blue lightning and white radiance that annihilated all things crashed together in midair, as though time itself had frozen at that moment.

Violent currents of energy instantly swept across the entire battlefield.

The dazzling white glow seemed to steal all light from heaven and earth, and even space itself let out a strained groan!

Like an unyielding will, the deep blue lightning actually tore a savage gash through the bottom of that enormous Dust Release cube. The two world-destroying powers formed a brief, suffocating deadlock in midair.

But it lasted only a moment.

Though the One-Finger Pierce was said to be the ultimate physical attack and could even break through a Tailed Beast Ball, it still fell short before the disintegrating power of Kekkei Tota's Dust Release.

A few breaths later, the Third Raikage's body let out a groan on the verge of breaking apart. His right arm bore unimaginable disintegrating force; muscle tore apart inch by inch, while his bones creaked with a teeth-grinding sound.

Their stalemate lasted only an instant!

Onoki's beard and hair stood on end as chakra poured forth madly.

The white light of the Dust Release cube suddenly flared, and the裂口 torn open by the One-Finger Piercing Hand began rapidly closing.

An even more terrifying force of disintegration crashed down like a tsunami!

Bzzzz!!

The Third Raikage's right arm finally gave out under that destructive power. The violent lightning dimmed, scattered, and was completely swallowed by the white glow.

Though he managed to twist his body slightly with the last of his strength, his entire right arm—and even nearly half his body—was erased by the Dust Release.

Indescribable agony flooded his mind.

The weakness blurred his consciousness. He fell helplessly to the ground, with no strength left to move.

"Third!"

"Lord Raikage!!"

The Hidden Cloud ninja rushing toward White Stone Gorge turned back and witnessed the horrific scene. Their eyes split with rage as they let out heart-wrenching roars.

Many of them stopped, wanting to turn back.

But more clear-headed ninja, tears in their eyes, shoved their companions onward as they continued retreating.

They could not let the chance their Raikage had bought with his life go to waste.

"Retreat... all of you, get out..."

The Third Raikage's weak voice continued to emerge. As long as they could escape, even dying here would be worth it.

"Retreat?"

"Not one of them will get away."

Onoki remained expressionless. As he flew toward White Stone Gorge, where the Hidden Cloud ninja were retreating, he waved a hand and directed the Hidden Stone ninja.

"Bring A back to me."

"Yes!"

The Hidden Stone ninja, stunned by the clash between the two Kage, snapped out of it. Those near A repeatedly confirmed that the strongest Raikage had lost his ability to fight before cautiously approaching him.

But at that very instant, a beam of light suddenly tore through the heavens and burst forth before the Third Raikage.

That light did not come from the sky. It was as though space itself had been ripped apart, descending from the distant horizon with a speed beyond the limits of thought!

And in the instant that light flashed, a bolt of Blood Lightning arrived even faster. Violent chakra erupted alongside blazing blood flames, sending every approaching Hidden Stone ninja flying!

"What?!"

Onoki's brows knitted tightly.

Everyone present had their attention drawn to that sudden light.

The white glow faded.

A tall figure stood there with his arms crossed, bare-chested, black hair spiking upward, and blood-red eyes radiating wild savagery.

At his feet lay the Third Raikage A, covered in blood, his breath so weak it was nearly gone—yet not fully extinguished.

Yotsuki Sora slowly raised his head. His icy gaze swept over Onoki in the sky, whose expression had changed drastically and whose mind was reeling, before lowering his eyes to look calmly at the dying Third Raikage.

Blood flames and Blood Lightning spread around his body.

The overload from the Heavenly Transfer Technique had ignited his fighting spirit!

"You're in pretty bad shape, old man."